Management of downloads from a network-based digital data repository based on network performance

Abstract

Improved techniques and systems for storage, delivery and acquisition of digital assets stored in cloud data storage. Cloud data storage can be provided by a cloud data repository that is capable of storing digital data for various users. A given user can access cloud data storage from any of his/her authorized client devices via a network. A given client device can access not only locally stored digital assets but also remotely stored digital assets from cloud data storage. In one embodiment, downloads of digital assets resident in cloud data storage to client devices can be managed in view of available network performance. As one example, digital assets of differing quality levels can be downloaded in a manner dependent on network performance. As another example, locally stored digital assets of reduced quality can be upgraded (e.g., replaced) by higher quality versions in a manner dependent on network performance.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for upgrading a digital asset at an electronic device having a memory for data storage, the method comprising:
 identifying, by the electronic device, a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory; 
 determining, by the electronic device, network performance available to the electronic device; 
 determining, by the electronic device, whether an upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based on the network performance and one or more additional criteria, the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is idle, whether the electronic device is in a locked mode, and whether the user of the electronic device has not interacted with the electronic device for a predetermined period of time; 
 delaying, by the electronic device, the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset for a predetermined period of time when the electronic device determines that the upgrade should not be performed; 
 requesting, by the electronic device, a high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage when the electronic device determines the upgrade should be performed; 
 receiving, by the electronic device, the high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage; 
 storing the electronic file in the data storage at the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is coupled to a power supply. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional criteria are waived when the user of the electronic device is seeking to access a particular digital asset previously stored as its low quality version and has not yet be upgraded. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more additional criteria are waived when the determined network performance available to the electronic device reaches the predetermined level. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, the network performance based on a network bandwidth available to the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       6. A system for upgrading a digital asset at an electronic device having a memory for data storage, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 a non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes: 
 identifying, by the electronic device, a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory; 
 determining, by the electronic device, network performance available to the electronic device; 
 determining, by the electronic device, whether an upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based on the network performance and one or more additional criteria, the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is idle, whether the electronic device is in a locked mode, and whether the user of the electronic device has not interacted with the electronic device for a predetermined period of time; 
 delaying, by the electronic device, the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset for a predetermined period of time when the electronic device determines that the upgrade should not be performed; 
 requesting, by the electronic device, a high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage when the electronic device determines the upgrade should be performed; 
 receiving, by the electronic device, the high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage; 
 storing the electronic file in the data storage at the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is coupled to a power supply. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional criteria are waived when the user of the electronic device is seeking to access a particular digital asset previously stored as its low quality version and has not yet be upgraded. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more additional criteria are waived when the determined network performance available to the electronic device reaches the predetermined level. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, the network performance based on a network bandwidth available to the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including one or more sequences of instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes:
 identifying, by the electronic device, a low quality version of a digital asset that is stored in the local memory; 
 determining, by the electronic device, network performance available to the electronic device; 
 determining, by the electronic device, whether an upgrade of the locally stored digital asset should be performed based on the network performance and one or more additional criteria, the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is idle, whether the electronic device is in a locked mode, and whether the user of the electronic device has not interacted with the electronic device for a predetermined period of time; 
 delaying, by the electronic device, the upgrade of the locally stored digital asset for a predetermined period of time when the electronic device determines that the upgrade should not be performed; 
 requesting, by the electronic device, a high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage when the electronic device determines the upgrade should be performed; 
 receiving, by the electronic device, the high quality version of the digital asset from the remote cloud storage; 
 storing the electronic file in the data storage at the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more additional criteria including whether the electronic device is coupled to a power supply. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more additional criteria are waived when the user of the electronic device is seeking to access a particular digital asset previously stored as its low quality version and has not yet be upgraded. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 determining, by the electronic device, the network performance based on a network bandwidth available to the electronic device.